☆☆☆☆☆
37 Taunton Green
Taunton, MA 02780
Phone: (800) 275-8777
http://www.usps.com/

taunton-us-post-office-2010-025.jpgIt’s been two years since I first went to the Taunton U.S. Post Office to apply for a United States Passport and was mortified to find there was NO wheelchair access into this federal United States Post Office. (You can read my March 2008 access review by clicking on Taunton U.S. Post Office.

Monday, my mom, Ric, Josh and I headed back to the Taunton U.S. Post Office to see if there have been any improvements made on accessibility and sadly there have been NONE.

taunton-us-po-022.jpgThere are NO handicap parking spaces surrounding this U.S. Post Office. There are a few short term (15 minute only) parking spaces for postal customers located on the side street by the rear door; yet none are marked as handicap parking spaces; and the sidewalk curb-cut is not marked or clear to see.

taunton-us-post-office-2010-027.jpgThe main entrance has a staircase which is NOT at all accessible. A sign posted in front of the Post Office is very DECEIVING for it has a wheelchair accessible symbol with a sign stating “Accessible Entrance” with arrow directing you to the rear; yet there is NO wheelchair access from the rear to the main post office.

taunton-us-post-office-2010-038.jpgLocated on the rear side of this Post Office is another wheelchair accessible sign which states “Accessible Entrance”; this sign is also DECEIVING for there is NO accessible entrance leading to the main lobby of the Post Office. Here you will find an accessible sloped walkway with railings on both sides which lead to the rear entry door.

taunton-us-post-office-2010-037.jpgThere is NO handicap accessible sign posted on this rear entry door. The rear entry door is NOT automatic and very difficult to open for it swings outward, towards you which makes access difficult.

Once inside you find yourself in a dark, dingy hallway; another door leading into the basement of the Post Office is locked; there is a sign stating “Customers Please Ring Buzzer For Service”; yet the buzzer is NOT within my reach. This door is NOT an accessible entrance; there is NO wheelchair access leading to this U.S. Post Office. There is a large freight elevator on the side yet it is for ‘Postal Employees Only’.

taunton-us-post-office-2010-033.jpgRic rang the buzzer for me; we waited about 5 minutes and a female postal worker greeted us. She asked what I wanted and I asked for a book of stamps. I gave her the exact amount of money ($8.80) for the cost of the stamps; she then shut the door leaving me in the dark, dingy hall; soon she came back and gave me my book of stamps. We exited and left.

Some have used the excuse that this Taunton U.S. Post Office is an historical building; therefore it is not required to be accessible. Yet I’ve been to many other historical buildings which have done barrier free renovations which nicely blend into the landscape of the historical building providing Universal Access.

One of the nicest U.S Post Offices I’ve been to is the Quincy U.S. Post Office which you can read about by clicking on Quincy U.S. Post Office.  It is an old historical building where very important American history took place; yet the Quincy U.S. Post office built a beautiful wheelchair accessible ramp leading to the front entrance which blends in nicely with the historical architect; there is no reason the Taunton United States Post Office can’t do the same!

taunton-us-post-office-2010-040.jpgI felt like a Second Class Citizen forced to enter in a rear door where there is still no access to the U.S. Post Office. Sadly, Discrimination Against Persons with Physical Disabilities still exist in America :-( I strongly believe it is the right of every American citizen to have full and equal access to all United States Post Offices which are federal government owned buildings.

In January of 2009, I filed a formal written complaint with the United States Access Board regarding the inaccessibility of the Taunton U.S. Post Office,  Fall River U.S. Post Office, New Bedford U.S. Post Office and  Plymouth U.S. Post Office . (You can click on the name of these U.S. Post Offices to read my reviews). I am extremely disappointed I have not heard anything regarding my postal complaints from the United States Access Board.

Once again I give the Taunton U.S. Post Office ZERO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn any Stars, they would first need to build an accessible ramp on the side of the front stairs leading to the main entry door!